trying flute accessories and gadgets! | sound enhancers, pneumo pro, & more
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- Опубліковано 4 лют 2025
- In today's video I try some crazy looking flute accessories/gadgets and see if they actually work...
accessories mentioned in order of appearance:
silicone flute thumb rests amzn.to/3ucAfyX
Pneumo Pro Wind Director amzn.to/3sLHIoy
The Flute Tutor amzn.to/3maRdLm
CIELmusic Flute Sound Improver amzn.to/3mcJ35d
FTC: This video is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. Some of the links are affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission if you purchase through them at no extra cost to you.
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A: I am based in NYC, but I am currently in Pennsylvania at my family's home due to everything going on with the pandemic.
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A: I play on a 9 karat rose gold Muramatsu
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#flute #tryingfluteaccessories #flutelyfe
I'm wondering what the enhancer would sound like on a much cheaper/lower quality flute, which is theoretically what it would be for. I don't think you really need to enhance your own flute too much lol
Yeah cuz my flute is like $200 and it works on it
I covet your flute. Excellent review. I would love to see how Ciel works on a decent quality student instrument. (Well regulated mechanism and pads, nickel silver or plated.) I wonder if it's meant to simulate the physics/resonance qualities of thicker tubing or "better" metal.
My band director had us first practice on the pneumo pro (by itself, we never put it on the flute) when I started in 5th grade. It definetly helped me direct my air and get a better embrocure as a beginner. Never got that bottom one and very rarely remember getting that top one either though.
Same! We only had one so my band director had to clean it for each person that used it. We had a test one time on who could hit the bottom one and no one was able to without moving their embrocure position lol
hey another ellie pfp lmao
It’s a requirement for beginners at my school 😅
Same!
Lung lung only needs 40 hrs.
But...
honestly interesting perspective, when I've review similar items, it's hard to tell if there is a difference.
It's not lung lung it's Ling Ling 😂😂
🤦♂️
@@odairezq1309 for flute it is lung lung
@@flutechannel what are you serious? 😂😂😂😂
@@flutechannel in what it is for piano? 😂
omg hii i love your videos! 🤩
I always get that red spot but it’s a sign I’ve been practising well haha
Yeees, but sometimes it kinda hurts.
Yep same here, especially if I'm doing a concert of some kind
I get the red spot on the outside of my pointer finger too. Mine usually hurts tho lol
Ecpecally when you play for a long time
Sameee I used to get it all the time when I played flute. It got really red one time and actually hurt a bit since I had been practicing about 2-3 hours a day outside of school one time when I had solo for a competition. No other flute players in my band got it so they thought I was too rough even though I always held my flute gently lmao
I worked with the Pneumo Pro consistently for about five years (eighth grade to senior year of high school) and I can attest to its sound enhancing abilities. It really is just a tool to help flutists to focus their air and develop better lung capacity. It works wonders and I highly recommend it for any flutist!
I use the student’s hand and a straw. Must cheaper.
@@michellescheen2630 You use the students hand and a straw? How?
@@randomperson1weekago295
Have the student “facepalm” themselves. Hold the hand in front of their face. Without moving the head, blow air at the wrist, that is all the notes in the middle of the staff, blow air towards the fingertips, that is the air for above the staff, blow air towards the elbow, notes at the bottom of the staff. Blow air up and down the arm. Works the same as the Pneumo Pro without spending $30.
Straw can be a slide whistle if you blow across the top of it and take fingers to slide up the straw. This focuses the airstream.
The Ciel sounds like it locks you in to playing aggressively. Like, I could hear dynamic differences. Your arpeggios sounded lovely both times. But when you started the excerpt the first time with a delicate color, the second time was aggressive or more in the face per say. The second excerpt it made you sound like you were ever so slightly losing control with it on.
I came here to say this. I think this is the sort of thing where each flautist has a different mouth, a different flute, a different way of playing, so each flautist is going to have wildly different experiences based on all of that, before even getting into the question of whether the Ciel is made of this or that material, enhances this or that aspect of the playing.
That said, for you (Katie) and your flute, it sounds like it would be good to use if you're playing a piece and/or in a setting where you're having trouble being heard. Outdoors, or with a larger orchestra/band than you're used to playing with, or if the flute section is very small and you're playing lower tones so it's harder to be heard. The sound becomes a little heavier and darker, a little richer, and a little less airy I think? It projects better than without it, but yes, it does lock you into that more aggressive, almost steely tone. If you're ever playing with a jazz or rock band, this would be great to add some more depth to the sound so that everyone can hear that you're not just there to mimic pretty, tiny birds fluttering around. When you want your flute sound to be big, beefy, aural umami, this is a great, quick way to get it without altering your second-nature methods of achieving your more usual soloistic, orchestral, or chamber sound.
@@danielandforok Yes? :)
Sound enhancer!! Enhance. ENHANCE.
yo what's up Christopher?!
I could hear the lower notes being a bit more full, but I personally don’t like the idea of something being glued to my flute... oh and btw I love this type of video ❤️
Me neither I don't trust that :P
precisely what I heard too!
I bought a set of those silicone thumb rests and use them under the knuckle of my left index finger. I do have quite large hands and some early arthritis, so depending on the day, it really adds to my comfort level and allows me to have a more relaxed hand position. I agree with you, Katie, that it likely depends on the individual player. As an aside, I just bought my first alto recorder and it also fits ok as a thumb rest for that 😅
Flutist of 31 years here. I could definitely hear a sound difference with the Ciel, and I'm sure you could too after watching the video back. The sound was more powerful and more projecting. However, not necessary, as your playing now has even grown more over the past year since you last made this video. As far as any gadget to place onto a flute, I say don't worry about any stigmas or what people might think. If you get a LeFreque, for example, and love the way you sound and how the flute feels with it on, if you just love playing your flute more with that little gadget, then yay! It's a good thing.
My instructor gave me a pneumo pro to try when I first started flute. It really helps with achieving range and clear high and low sounds. If I practice flute for more than half an hour I get a red spot on my left hand pointer finger so I bought the silicon rest and it helps so much when I’m practicing (even though I don’t use it for performances).
Personally, the ciel, is audibly louder and clearer but slightly harsher.
I am using a Pneumo pro as I am teaching myself to learn the flute via internet tutor. It definitely helps. I blow on it before I do my practice sessions for about 5 minutes or so. I find it makes me better aware where to blow on the registers. Thanks for your lovely music and tips. :)
Ps. My green one also doesn't work. Only if you turn the gadget like you did. Nevertheless, it has assisted me to blow better for lower notes.
Best of luck! How is it going? Are you still playing?
You could try the Lefreque sound bridge, I actually really like them. They can change your sound on cheaper flutes, as well as amplify the sound.
Megan, do the Lefreques change a flutists sound if they have an excellent flute? Do you use one on yours?
@@flautalee3090 I have a student intermediate flute. A high quality flute would mostly only benefit from projection, I believe. However, if you use a silver Lefreque with a gold flute, the sound may become brighter, and a gold Lefreque with a silver would round it out. The improvement in sound is much greater in less high quality instruments. I tried it after JustAnotherFlutist did a review.
@@megandooley138 This all goes to show how much the player IS the flute sound, rather than how much a person’s playing is improved by a $15,000 professional flute. You are a wonderful player, and you absolutely need to keep that flute as a backup flute because you will need it! Many of the intermediate flutes, which I believe were not even available until the mid-1980’s or so, are excellent instruments. I’m particularly impressed by the ones made by Azumi, Yamaha, Emerson, Armstrong, Trevor James.
Way back in 2001, I was a participant in the wonderful NJFlute ChoirDay program at Drew University, Madison, NJ, Dr Virginia Schultz-Johnson, Dir. About halfway through the final pre-concert rehearsal, Sir James Galway walked in! He is a friend of Virginia’s and had performed in Newark, NJ the evening before. He was going to be performing that evening in NYC.
After he was introduced and greeted us, Sir James asked a young boy if he might borrow his flute to play. Sir James went on to play «Danny Boy» while the rest of us were directed to play a low pitch. Sir James could be clearly heard playing higher, over nearly 100 flutists. I can only imagine how excited that young boy, who now is a 30-something, was that Sir James played his flute.
I was fortunate to speak with Sir James twice that weekend: first, in the green room the previous evening; second, as he was getting ready to leave the NJFCD (we all took a break as he left)!
One last thought: I knew someone who had a phenomenal sound and who played a Murumatsu she purchased on EBay. She said that the best flute she had ever played on was an aluminum flute made in post WWII E Germany, when precious metals were not available. I would have liked to have tried that one out, too!
I guess we’re not going to be trying out each other’s instruments for a while......
Thank you for your response to my comment, truly.
I bought a lefreque last year, and I can really tell the difference, I'm a more advanced player and I find that it really responds to me when I play with a dark sound, but also makes my high register brighter too! I'd recommend you give it a try if you're interested xx
@@Looopylu25 yes I've been using one for just over a year now. For me it just helps me stabilise the tone quickly when the flute is cold, but also makes the flute a little thicker in tone. I really like it a lot. Its a small difference, but enough for me to notice and feel a benefit.
Good stuff! I’m not a flute player, but teach middle school band and am always looking for things to help my students. Just a thought about the last product (the sound enhancer): It’s possible that the product would have more of an impact on a student-level flute. Many intermediate to professional flutes are solid silver, or at least the head joints are, adding extra mass. With the lighter head joints, the added weight to a much lighter head joints might make the change in tone more noticeable. I could be wrong…Maybe another test with an entry level flute/head joint?
I heard a difference with the sound enhancer, but I felt it lost the finesse. You have beautiful control of the instrument. With the enhancement it sounded louder and darker to me, so I believe it could be useful perhaps in some circumstances, but not when you are being showcased.
My teacher used the pneumo pro when she was teaching me, and it really helped me learn how to make good sound, I highly recommend 👍
I could definitely hear a difference with the sound enhancer! I liked it.
Me too
It gives a little power and volume
I couldn’t hear any difference without headphones and even with headphones it’s very minimum
I could hear a difference when you added the sound enhancer, but I don’t like the idea of something being glued to my flute. I think that’s why the lefreque was created. It’s just held on with a band.
Play with the pnemo pro more! As a band teacher, I use it to help my students find their sound. It works almost every time! I then use it when they're first learning to play as they keep working on their sound at the beginning. I have yet to explore it's uses as an advanced player for myself.
Hi! Could you please elaborate on how you use it for your students to find their sound? I'm a flute teacher trying it out first before using it on my students. Do you follow what the website says? Because I always thought that everyone has a different embouchure, there's a lot of experimenting to do to get WHERE to put the lip plate on your lip? But it seems the pneumo pro makes everyone have the same roll in angle? Because I have the same problem as katie... I can't hit the green fan.
Hi! I used my PneumoPro when I was in a situation where I could not practice-for 7 weeks. Practicing on it for just a few minutes each day saved my tone and embouchure flexibility. Great product. For finger flexibility I practiced scales and arpeggios without silently.
❤❤❤
The PneumoPro is to small to fit my granddaughter’s vintage Gemeinhart student flute. So we just used it out of the flute.
Hi. My gosh! I played in advanced band from age 9-16 and we did not have these gadgets/tools then. I have just recently retired from ok a 42 year nursing career and decided to learn the flute. With the exception of Trombone and French Horn in my 7 years of music, I learned, played and mastered every woodwind except the flute! I will subscribe to your channel and let you know how it goes!
I closed my eyes and just listened and I could tell when you were playing with the Ciel attached, and without, albeit ever so slightly. When the Ceil was attached it gave a more earthy sound, and without a more beautiful sound. I think the Ciel could be useful for certain types of music ie: for meditation. I would give it a thumbs up though.
Wow so shocked I actually recognised the last extract of the piece you were playing to try out the ciel. It's one of the Piazolla Flute tango Etudes. Just very suprised as I really have not played many pieces.
You have a wonderful sound ! Enjoyed listening to you play and I want to hear more . You’re a great example of wonderful flute playing . Thanks.
Yep, the pneumo pro is a great product! Thank you flute researcher, lesson book author, and master teacher Kathi Blocki! ❤❤❤
My band director has a “tone enchanter” (the second item) abs we call it the bumblebee. We are a 7-12 band so it’s helpful for beginning flute and piccolo players
I love my Lefreque - it really helps me resonate my sound
I used the bo-pep (BOPEP1) finger rest for the left hand when I was first learning flute since my fingers are double jointed and the left index finger would lock up. I outgrew it rather quickly and didn’t need it after getting better technique but it was useful for a beginner I’d say!
My pinky on right hand locks when i try and play D# and C notes on the tail part of the flute, would you suggest i try the product you mention?
My right ring finger used to lock up in double jointed position in high school and now arthritis locks up and I have to manually pull it straight in my late seventies!
Your presentation is
perfect from all aspects . taken a lot of care to make this one . a genuine creator resides in you !! God bless you always my dear friend . my best wishes are with you . Love . ❤️❤️
the Ciel definitely adds brilliance, your sound before adding it was a lot darker. i feel like you had a silver flute and just wanted a very bright sound it would be good
I have used the thumb pad, but only for my right hand to rest my index finger in the way you said was uncomfortable for you. I get a lot of pain there when I play for a while and that pad really helps. I haven't determined yet if I need it for my left hand.
8:30 brings me back to playing that for UIL😂. Great video!
After watching this I got one of the silicone thumb rests and they actually work pretty well. I have my friends one and they say it works good too
I'm usually a bit reserved when it comes to LeFreques and the Ciel. I'd like to hear to hear a bigger study being done on those things. Like. 3 players playing three different flutes both with and without the gadgets. Not have them knowing when it's on or not and spread the test over several days. It's hard otherwise to know if the possible difference is placebo, just a different take or something else.
I like the sound enhancer for passages where you are trying to project. I’ll look into it. (Flutist of 60 years here.)
I remember being shown a headjoint plug😮 that was supposed to be great - hundreds of $$. When I asked what would happen if I didn’t like it. The salesman told me I would need to keep. So I said, « No, thank you. »
You are a wonderful flutist and educator! I’m a flutist, too, and this is my first time watching your channel and I think it’s great.
I think the sound enhancer does make your tone more resonant ~ even more “overtones” ~ you already have gorgeous tone and technique , Katie.
I’ll check out the links to see how expensive it is. I’m also am curious about the various Lefreques and the cork replacements that are supposed to improve what you can do with your flute. (flexibility, larger tone, etc). Thank you!
I used the pneumopro with my two students, and it really helped visualize the air flow. It even helped my low notes, too, once I figured out how to make the bottom spinner spin!😬
Do you have any videos for first time learners or those who are relearning the flute?
Hi Katie, congratulations on your work! I particularly liked the pneumo pro, it is excellent for teaching students. I did not know the ciel music sound improver, but I felt that it improves the sound of the flute, making it more conscious and the articulation is more defined. I was curious to try this product.
my 6th and 7th grade year we used the 2nd one it helped a lot in now in 10th grade and can say i’m so glad we did it
Omg your intro music is the end of a piece i’m playing!
I use the thumb pads up near the C key where you said that your hands were too small for it. Personally, I've had success with putting it there but I also have big hands 😂 the only issues I've had is when it accidentally gets wedged under a key 😅
Maybe try out the Celestine Rexonator, which replaces your cork!
Interesting find and great discovery!
I also can’t get that green one consistently LOL I tell my beginners to aim for it but once they successfully make the red fan move I usually know their ready. balancing a penny helps
Beautiful flute accessories
I play clarinet and my sister plays flute. And playing clarinet I get this red mark from the thumb rest we have on a clarinet, like you said in the flute. ❤️.
I definitely heard a difference with the enhancer, it sounded fuller and more resonant!
no you didnt. you hear with your brain. so ehat you see affect what you hear.
i could hear a difference! not sure if it is needed, but there was definitely something there. deeper, maybe? more resonant? idk but it was nice. but it seems like it'd be a hassle to keep clean and store and reattach it every time. i so want a pneumo pro's for my bands but $$ and cleaning (esp in the times of covid) but they'd be so useful at the beginning of the year for the baby flutes.
The Flute Tutor is especially important for students who roll in to much and have developed a bad habit of covering the embouchure hole too much. It is incredibly difficult to break this habit. The Flute Tutor makes it impossible to roll in which should help to break the habit. It also helps the student to develop flexibility without rolling the flute in and out.
I used the spinny head joint thing in band class when I first started
I use a Thumb Port which is a better thumb rest then the one you tried. I love mine but I have an EXTREMELY curvy thumb (it goes at a right angle lol) so I couldn’t hold a flute with the tip of my thumb very easily and a lot of the time used the pad of my thumb which then could wreak havoc on tone because it would roll about a lot easier. My flute teacher didn’t like it but she has normal thumbs 😂
The ciel defiantly enhances it!
Kate, use a1/4 inch wide rubber band around the flute where you would normally put your left-hand pointer finger to give it something to hang on to so it won't slip around the flute.
my flute teacher has the pneumo pro and they are working towards getting our middle school flutes some! 😁
I agree with all the other comments, try the Lefreque! I am a college student (music minor) and have used them regularly. I notice a major difference on piccolo, alto, and bass, but not so much on my regular flute. However, my flute is scratched from the use of this product, so that is something to consider.
lefreque is also useless.
Could you make another video testing more flute Gadgets like maybe the sound bridge and other cool things people are talking about here in the comments? I’d find it really interesting and helpful! Thanks for the video☺️
WOW, as a tech., teacher, and player of over 45 yrs., great player.and beautiful horn. Is that a Lambertson? Very responsive headjoint.
I use both the thumbport and fingerport and am so used to both of them that the thought of playing without them makes me physically uncomfortable lol
I use the thumb rests. I was getting terrible pain in my thumb, and no amount of relaxing or repositioning helped. As soon as I started using the thumb rest, the pain in my thumb cleared up. The real drawback for me is that, as the rests age, they relax a bit, and you have to keep watching that they don't slip. If they slip, they can prevent you from playing certain notes.
I have a Bo Pep on my flute and I feel like it does help because I have short fingers and it just adds space to help my fingers reach the holes on my flute.
How about the rhino resonator
Or the woodify clamp
My band director actually puts tape on our flutes so we know where the knuckle of our left index finger goes and our right thumb goes. I have sweaty hands when I play so my tape kept falling off so I bought thumb grips to see if they would help and they helped a LOT. They are also just more comfortable for me than the tape
Edit: I forgot to mention that it was painters tape so it didn’t damage the flute
I used one of these 6:28 in one of my very first lessons. It was very useful as a beginner.
You should try lefrec and finger-thumb rest from the fcny
Thank you for this video ☺️...
I could hear a slight difference in the resonance with the sound enhancer. Have you ever used Woodify? I bought one for my Landel flute and love it! I have the one in Beechwood, but they come in several different varieties. FCNY carries them. You should do a video and try them all!
I haven't tried one yet, but I am super curious! I will def have to make another video with them. Thanks for the suggestion! :)
i think that the sound enhancer made it sound very good. And the lower notes sounded better
For the green spinner, you really need to angle the airstream way down, and be sure that it can spin.
Oh yes the red mark on that finger is very relatable i gte them all the time
8:06 when you want to be a violinist but just can affort a flute (shoulder rest)
the violin is cheaper tho
@@maiiaskrypnyk5234 depends on quality brand and stuff tho
@@maiiaskrypnyk5234 a really bad violin is cheap you mean... we can buy plastic flutes too hahahaha
@@manolindo100 I wasn't talking about cheap instruments, just compare yamaha student models for ex
@Itz_NormallyOdd! hey, what’s up?
When I was in middle school I switched from low brass to flute. My teacher noticed I had a slight problem because I had an over bite. I really want to try this pneumo pro
I think there is ones specifically designed for the left hand part, they usually come in a pair with the thumb plate
That happens to my left hand. I definitely need an offset g flute because I do get hand pain as well.
I used to call the thumb rest a “saddle” back in the day
I’d love if you’d test out a lefreque!
Ooo good idea!! ☺️
Love ur content gurl
Wonder if you’ve ever tried the “tornado” tone-booster drop-in accessory? I think it’s great.
The second thing helped me pick the flute
I could here a difference in the lower notes but not so much in the last piece you played. I use a finger saddle for my left hand.
Keeps hand in place and it positions my hand better to reach the inline G and A keys.
I get the red mark too!
i use a thumb pad type thing and I rlly can’t play without it
bc I have very weirdly long fingers so it makes it more comfortable for me
the ciel make the sound fuller especially in the lower note and gave it more power and volume
The ciels looks brilliant sound and fatty lower sound and stable sound also
I use a bo pep thumb rest for my right thumb as I get rsi/tendonitis when I play the flute for too long. Makes it much more comfortable.
Loved this video, thanks for sharing your thoughts! I've never tried thumb rests but I use a thumbport for my right thumb, which I love! The Pneumo Pro looks so cool! I'm also interested in the LefreQue device, have you ever tried that?
Can you please do a video like this but for piccolo please 😊 thanks
What was the second etude that she played while testing out the Ciel? I brought my flute to college (not a music major) but I don’t have a ton of etudes to play and that one sounds fun!
To get the green fan direct the air high in the mouth and then use the upper lip to direct the air down.
Could you maybe do a tutorial on how to do/improve your vibrato?
Ciel S/I: adds upper harmonics to your sound in the lower/middle register, creating a fatter, richer, more interesting sound. What would happen by putting it on the footjoint? It would be interesting to hear you compare it to the LeFreque (which another UA-cam Flutist thought that it limited the range of colours that she could achieve, as I understand.) Thank you for this.
The ciel does sound different, but I prefer your original tone as it has more character. The ciel seems to round out the tone so the notes have a similar "colour" but its a small effect.
Excellent video!
Hi Katie what flute did you use in this vid
The flutes at my school are not working anymore. Only 2 out of 8 flutes are working.
I'm a intermediate flautist and with the last product, I thought I could here more breath while you were playing but over all there wasn't a lot of change.
The last piece , was Piazzola??
With the Ciel I could hear it a bit louder but not much of an outstanding difference
I think a thumb port is a better alternative to the thumb rest, thats what i use at least
The ciel dulled the flute, I have the pneumo-pro it is a decent tool for air flow training
I always use a thumb rest except mine is plastic. It helps to make sure your thumb doesn't slide around on the back.
Try the LefeQue!! I have one and it really changed my sound and the overall sensation when playing, made in more consistent. I have the 33mm Red Brass one, but im really considering buying the bigger 41mm brass Gold one some day.
I love this ❤
It makes it feel more edgy, but it also restricts the color palette! I liked your playing more without the enhancer. There was a lot more colors without it.